Strap-holder.



PATENTED NOV. 14, 1905.

J- D. RANDALL.

STRAP HOLDER. APPLICATION TILED APR.20,1905

'VE OR By a i ATTO N J EX JAMES D. RANDALL, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

STRAP-HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 14, 1905.

Application filed April 20, 1905. Serial No. 256,655.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES D. RANDALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oincinnati, Hamilton county, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Strap-Holders; and I do declare the following to be a clear, full, and exact description thereof, attention being called to the accompanying drawings, with the reference characters marked thereon, which form also a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain improve ments in strap-holders, meaning thereby a device used in leather working, Saddlery and harness manufacture, &c., to hold pieces of leather, particularly when in elongated or strap form, while certain work is done on them. The device holds the leather usually at one end. Theworkman holds the free part with one of his hands, while with the other he performs the particular work, which consists usually of rubbing, polishing, trimming, &c.

The object of my invention is to construct such a holding device in convenient form and so that as to grasping the leather it is selfacting, whereby the mere act of placing the leather causes also the device to grasp and firmly hold the same.

In the following specification, and particularly pointed out in the claim at the end thereof, is found a full description of my invention, together with its manner of use, parts, and construction, which latter is also illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front view of the device. Fig. 2 is a side view of it in normal position. Fig. 3 in a similar view shows the device in use.

The device constitutes, substantially, a clamp, of which A is one jaw, and B is the other one. One of these is stationary and the other one pivotally supported in a manner to be capable of certain movements with reference to the stationary jaw. Both jaws are by preference serrated on their opposite strapengaging surfaces, as shown. Both are supported on a frame-standard O, and I arrange it that the stationary jaw is below the movable one. Jaw A is supported on an arm a, projecting outwardly from the standard between its ends. Jaw B is supported on an arm 0, projecting out from the upper end of the standard, it being mounted on the outer end of this arm by means of a pivot b. The

location of this pivot is vertically above the stationary jaw and at a point between the ends thereof. The movable jaw is extended beyond its pivotal support in form of a leverarm I), which is shaped so as to extend first upwardly and thence rearwardly, as shown, and preferably also downwardly, thus being less of a projection, which might possibly be objectionable. At the free end of this leverarm I provide a weight which may be in form of a ball cl and which weightholds the movable jaw in a normal position forwardly of its supporting-center, as shown in Fig. 2. At the lower end of the standard is a suitable base E for attachment of the device in a fixed position.

Cast metal may be used for all parts of the device.

The device is self-acting for the purpose of grasping one end of a strap and is used as follows: The end of a strap F is introduced between the clamp-jaws in a manner that when approaching the device it strikes against the movable jaw, as shown in Fig. 2, and during insertion pushes such jaw from its normal position in front of its supporting center rearwardly, as shown in dotted lines in same figure, raising at the same time weight d. After insertion it is not necessary to close the movable jaw against the strap on the stationary jaw, because the weighted arm will perform such function automatically, and the strap end will be securely held between the clamp-jaws as soon as released by the hand, as shown in Fig. 3, and after the act of mere insertion only. The strap may now be worked in any manner, and any pull on it only increases the holding pressure against it, since the clamping-point of engagement. is now back of the supporting-center of the movable jaw and which latter is held in this position and against the strap by the weighted arm, which is now held elevated by the inserted strap. Neither can this latter under a pull pass outwardly beyond this clamping-point, since its presence between the jaws prevents the movable jaw from approaching the stationary onea movement which would necessarily have to take place at that time.

Having described my invention, I claim as new- In an improved strap-holder, the combination of an attaching-base, a standard thereon, an arm laterally projecting from between the ends of the same, a stationary jaw on this arm, an arm projecting from the upper end of this standard and terminating at a point above and between the ends of the stationary jaw, a movable jaw pivotally supported at In testimony thereof I hereunto afltix my the end of this sun and curved oppositely to signature in the presence of two Witnesses. the stationary aw, a lever-arm on this jaw extending rearwardly from the pivotal sup- JAMES RANDALL 5 port of the same and a weight at the end of Witnesses:

thls arm to hold the same in a certain, nor- C. SPENGEL,

Inal position. (J. MEYER. 

